26 MINISTER CUI PRETENDS TO ACT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHILE TAKING REVENGE FOR A PRIVATE GRUDGE

A cave high up in the mountains touching the purple empyrean,

The milky water of a hoary cliff dripping on monks and woodcutters.

Quietly sitting on a rush mat, without distractions,

Watching a strange sign arising far off on Mount Tiantai.

Let’s speak no more of Mother Zhang Two’s departure, but tell instead how Han Xiangzi took leave of Master Lü and went straight to the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. A great crowd of turtle grand councilors and palace secretaries, dragon advisers and grand masters, all bowed to him. Carp marshals, bream superintendents, mackerel defenders-in-chief, and crab office managers all together hastened submissively to welcome him. Along the sides many sturgeon squad leaders, water-lizard vanguards, shrimp warriors, and culter soldiers turned out; a gaggle of dragon sons and grandsons came hurrying out of the palace to welcome him. They drew near and inquired, “May we ask the divine immortal of the upper realms in what matter he comes to the water palace?”

“This is not for you to know,” Xiangzi said. “Where is the dragon king Ao Guang?”

With one voice the dragon sons and grandsons answered, “He received an order to proceed to Guilin Xiang Prefecture to produce rain and has not yet returned.”

“I received a decree from the Jade Emperor to go to Chang’an and deliver Mme. Dou and Luying,” Xiangzi said. “However, they were so attached to the splendors of this world that they refused to follow me and cultivate themselves. Therefore I memorialized the Jade Emperor, who then sent Master Lü to give a dream to Minister Cui. In it he told him to submit a memorial to Emperor Xianzong that the whole Han family be expelled and sent back to live in Changli.

“Because the Jade Emperor was afraid that they might remain attached to their confusions and not turn back, he also ordered the Dragon King to raise wind and waves, to roll the seas and arouse its billows, so as to wash away all the Han family’s mansions, houses, fields, hills, and marshes in Changli County. Nothing must remain, so as to shake their sense of earthly comforts. When they have nothing left around them and can go neither forward nor back, then I shall make my move and deliver them. None of the other habitations, official buildings, mountain fields, and level marshes must be damaged in the least, otherwise the Dragon King will be punished.”

The dragon sons and grandsons replied, “Who dares defy the Jade Emperor’s decree? As soon as our father, Ao Guang, returns he will put this command into execution and then report on his mission.”

Thereupon Xiangzi left the Crystal Palace and stepped on a cloud to meet with Master Lü and Lan Caihe and continue his journey with them.

That night the Dragon King led his sons and grandsons towards Changli. He opened wide his lightning eyes and bristled his red dorsal spikes, manifesting his awesome powers to overturn rivers and stir up oceans. Suddenly a rainstorm darkened the sky, thunder and lightning came in quick alternation, a chaotic mass of mists and clouds appeared out of nowhere, and flood waters flowed turbulently. It was as if the earth split and the sky fell down, as if the mountains collapsed and the rivers overflowed their banks.

The Han family’s houses, mansions, and honorific arches by the drum tower in the town, as well as their fields north and south of town and their granaries, were completely washed away. Not a bit remained. Alas, where did all those grasses and trees, grain stalks and seedlings, vanish to without leaving a trace?

When the people of Changli County saw this scene early the next morning, they said, “Since ancient times it has been said that mulberry orchards have changed into oceans, and oceans into mulberry orchards. This morning we realize that such a thing can really happen.”

One man, who rushed to the Chaotian Bridge to view the scene, said, “It seems as if Heaven channeled this water by lock-gates in such a way that it only submerged the property of Han Yu’s family. That’s very strange!”

“If Heaven sent down this flood to destroy his property holdings, it must be that Han Yu must have been lacking in merit,” the crowd said in one voice.

One man in the crowd said, “He was a very good official. There is nothing wrong with his merit. It must have been his memorial against the Buddha bone that insulted the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Because they were very angry with him, they manifested their divine powers and destroyed his family property, his fields, houses, and honorific arches, so as to demonstrate their authority. From now on, we should recite the Buddha’s name and rely on Heaven for our well-being.”

Another opined, “In Guangdong a crocodile had a nice lair until it was chased away without good cause by an official proclamation composed by Han Yu. The crocodile is seeking revenge, that’s why this great flood came and transformed the foundations of his walls into deep pits. I think it’s quite possible that the crocodile is hiding at the bottom of this water.”

“We are not divine immortals,” yet another said. “What do we know about the things of the hidden realm? Let’s all go home and concern ourselves with our own affairs.” Truly,

Everyone should sweep the snow before his own door,

And not concern himself with the frost on the roof of others.

The crowd heaved a sigh and dispersed.

In the meantime the minister Cui, having heard the many things that Mother Zhang Two said, was gnashing his teeth as hate penetrated his very bone marrow. After pondering the whole night, the next morning he hurriedly wrote a memorial to submit to Emperor Xianzong. In it he said that Mme. Dou and her family should not be allowed to remain in the capital and enjoy official emoluments. The text ran as follows:

The minister of revenue Cui Qun, sincere, yet trembling before Your Majesty’s authority, knocks his head. Your servant has heard that ordinary officials should not enjoy hereditary emoluments. If one is not a meritorious official with extraordinary achievements, one should not be able to receive the favors of golden scripts and iron contracts. I now perceive that Han Yu, the deceased prefect of Chaozhou, made no vast contribution to the nation while at court, nor did he achieve among the people any great accomplishments in controlling disasters. Instead he recklessly offended Your Majesty and was banished for life to a distant prefecture. His nephew Han Xiang has turned his back on the teachings of the sages and thrown in his lot with the School of Mysteries! He has abandoned his parents’ grave, and there is nobody to perform the periodic sacrifices for them. He has cast away the emotional bonds to his wife, who lives at home with no one to discipline her. Han Yu’s adopted son Han Qing has the feeble constitution of the earworm which ends up continuing the line of the sphex.¹ He does not apply himself to the study of The Book of Documents and Records of the Historian, but lives the life of a reckless wastrel.

Truly, the disorderly human relationships in this family are a disgrace to officialdom and do great harm to public morals. Yet Your Majesty has bestowed upon them monthly emoluments, a hereditary salary for them to enjoy. By means of such favors greedy and black-hearted characters can whitewash their name, and crafty fellows can pretend to be loyal and upright. How will Your Majesty in future treat one whose contributions to the nation and achievements for the people are manifested clearly? With all respect I beg you to apply severely the rule of punishing the criminal for his intentions and to strictly apply the utmost penalties. Strip Han Yu’s wife Mme. Dou of her monthly emoluments, send Han Qing to join the border guard at a remote frontier, and convert their house into a shrine to the former worthies. Their gold and silk, corn and rice, should all be used to enhance the granaries of the border troops, and they should not be allowed to secretly carry any of it with them. This way the officials will take warning and the common people will fear the law. Unable to overcome my shame and fear, I fervently await Your Majesty’s commands.

When Xianzong perused this memorial, he was filled with joy and said, “Cui Qun really is a supportive minister. When he learns of anything that is of benefit to the nation, he never hides it from Us. This Han Qing and the whole family receive a salary without deserving it. For nothing have they wasted money and grain. He should be made a border soldier and set out as soon as possible. No delays are permitted.”

Cui Qun was overjoyed when he saw Xianzong promulgate this decree. Truly, a lance thrust openly is easy to dodge, but a covert arrow is difficult to defend against. To illustrate this point, here is a poem:

When three men made up wild rumors,

The mother of Zeng jumped over the wall in fear.

For a wronged woman frost flew to proclaim her sorrow.²

For Jing Ke a rainbow gave forth a ray of light.

Melting gold and stripping people of their good names is easy;

A mere fly can do harm by blemishing a white jade token of office.

Just a day’s worth of slander

Caused grief to Jia Yi in Luoyang.³

When the civil and military officials assembled at court saw Xianzong promulgate this decree, they watched each other with embarrassment, but did not dare say anything. Suddenly an official rushed forth from among their ranks and approached the throne holding his tablet of office. He bowed to the throne and said,

“The Minister of Personnel Lin Gui, sincere, yet trembling before Your Majesty’s authority, knocks his head. The Duke of Zhou was a great sage, yet he was slandered by the four states, so that even his ruler became suspicious of him. Zeng Can was a great worthy, yet the words of three rumor-mongers shook and confused even his own mother. Surely this was not because King Cheng was not enlightened, or the mother of Zeng was not a good parent. No, it happened because rumors can melt gold, and slander can strip people of their good names. Your Majesty governs the whole empire, shining like the sun and moon, merciful like a father and mother. Yet among those that you seek to rely upon, how can there be no injustice? And injustice will always engender deep grievances.

“Allow me to explain it to Your Majesty. With his literary talents the former Minister of Rites Han Yu reinvigorated literature after eight generations of decay, and by means of his Dao he saved the empire from doom. All his life he was loyal and blunt and governed with loyalty and uprightness. When he prayed for snow, his sincerity reached the gods. When he expelled the crocodile, his grace was bestowed on many generations. It was only because his memorial against the Buddha bone offended Your Majesty that he was banished to a remote place and died of an illness in his office. Truly, Heaven has lost a proponent of its way,⁴ and as a result officials and the people have lost hope. Yet fortunately, when his burial was prepared his loyalty and righteousness still extended far, and because Your Majesty still remembered his former accomplishments, you graciously granted him sacrifices and a state burial, and enfeoffed him posthumously as Marquis of Changli Prefecture. A monthly emolument was granted to assist his family in their grief. Not only is Han Yu in the netherworld comforted by these tokens of acknowledgment, but they have also caused high and low officials to praise Your Majesty’s virtue, saying that Your Majesty has not turned his back on Han Yu.

“Now here is Cui Qun, who harbors jealousy in his heart because his marriage proposal was snubbed. He spouts groundless slander like certain vermin spit sand at passing shadows. Recklessly he memorializes that Han Yu in his lifetime never benefited the court, that now after his death he still enjoys undeserved emoluments, and that he should be stripped of all honors and denounced. It was because Your Majesty misheard that you approved this memorial. For my part, when I heard it I was very surprised and startled. Among all the civil and military officials at court there was none who did not sigh. All said that ever since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have respected the high ministers and shown consideration for your officials. There has never been a precedent for the demands of Cui Qun, who would punish Han Yu to such an extreme degree. In the days of Yao and Shun such a devil as Cui Qun surely would never have been tolerated. With all respect I beg Your Majesty to take back your orders, and to send Han Yu’s wife, Mme. Dou, back to her estate only temporarily. His son Han Qing should be spared military duty, so that he may serve his mother to the end of her life. If both the living and the dead were to receive Your Majesty’s mercy in this way,⁵ your minister Gui would be very happy indeed! I fervently submit this request and await Your Majesty’s orders.”

Xianzong approved Lin Gui’s request and ordered Han Qing to return with his mother Mme. Dou and the others to live in leisure at Changli. All their gold, silk, rice, and corn were to be thoroughly examined by the palace guards and impounded to be given to the officers of the border troops. They were not allowed to take anything with them. If they disobeyed, they were to be subject to threefold punishment. Here is a poem to underline their plight:

The ruler approved the memorial that they be returned to their estate,

To live in peace and leisure in their native district,

Not knowing that the Lord of Heaven had a cunning plan,

And destroyed their property so that they could not support themselves.

Let’s talk no more of events at court, but speak instead of Mme. Dou, who was sitting at home when her heart suddenly gave a start and she shivered. Her mind was uneasy. When a flock of crows and magpies flew noisily by, she quickly called Luying and said, “Daughter-in-law, last night I had an inauspicious dream, and today I am confused. All these crows and magpies making noise—is this a good or bad omen?”

“Mother-in-law, it is thinking of Father-in-law that has brought this about,” Luying said. “In ancient times they said, ‘A magpie’s cry has never indicated a good omen, and a crow’s cawing surely is not a bad one. Good and bad in the human realm are not to be found in the cries of birds.’ Those who have good fortune will always receive Heaven’s assistance; there is no need to worry.”

At that very moment they heard the clanging of gongs and the rolling of drums amidst the noise of horses and men. When they hurried out to look, a palace guard was outside the main hall, surrounded by a troop of attendants and runners, who seemed like evil spirits and baleful emanations and stood there menacingly with rolled-up sleeves. Mme. Dou and Luying were frightened and their faces turned ashen. They stared with their mouths open, but did not understand the reason for this at all. What crime had they committed? Everyone in the household hid and didn’t show themselves.

Han Qing, however, had no choice but to come out, kneel in the main hall, and inquire after the reason for their presence. The palace guard said, “I have received an imperial decree: I order Han Qing to lead Mme. Dou and other members of the household quickly home to reside in Changli. He is to be spared military duty. All family property is to be impounded and given as rewards to the border troops. You are not allowed to take anything along. The house will be assessed by officials from the Ministry of Works today and converted into a shrine for the former worthies, for whom statues will be set up so that they may receive sacrifices during the four seasons.” Having finished, the guard turned around and left.

Mme. Dou stomped her feet and beat her chest; she cried until she fell unconscious to the ground. Little did she know that it was Cui Qun who, having listened to Mother Zhang Two’s words, had secretly harmed them.

Suddenly Minister Lin arrived. Luying went forward to take hold of his sleeve; crying she collapsed in his arms. Lin Gui said, “My daughter, don’t be distressed, but count yourself lucky. If the emperor’s original decree had stood, your mother-in-law’s life would not have been spared.”

When Mme. Dou heard Lin Gui speaking in this manner, she struggled forward and asked, “Ever since my husband’s death we have lived a quiet life within our lot. Which slanderous official’s words did the emperor listen to that I am being subjected to such humiliation? Thus is my poor husband’s lifelong loyalty and goodness repaid!”

“Venerable lady, you don’t yet know the inside story,” Lin Gui said. “This is the doing of the Minister of Revenue Cui Qun, who memorialized the court that you and all your family be exiled to military service beyond the borders. This is to get back at you for not consenting to the marriage of my daughter. It was only when I took up the impossible task and, at risk of my life, submitted a memorial in your support, that the emperor took pity and allowed you to return to your native district instead. This is a great joy.”

“Cui Qun, you old robber!” Mme. Dou said. “You deceive your own conscience when you make designs on other people’s daughters, yet you won’t admit that you are in the wrong, but instead secretly slander us. Clearly you are deceiving Heaven. Just wait, the gods are always watching, and Heaven will not lightly forgive you. If only I live a little longer, I shall see you receive your deserved retribution with my own eyes.”

“Once the ruler is enraged, the heads of men fall to the ground,” Luying said. “If it hadn’t been for my father, things would have looked bleak indeed. Mother-in-law, upset yourself no more.”

Then Mme. Dou ordered Han Qing to quickly pack up and set out. Han Qing hired boats, carts, and horses. He took leave of Minister Lin and led Mme. Dou and Luying home towards Changli County. As they passed the wayside pavilions at the ten- and five-mile markers he looked at the willows along the bank and listened to the calls of the doves outside the forest. It seemed to him that the scenery was very different from when he last saw it as he was traveling towards Chang’an, overlayed with grief as it was now. Truly: Wild flowers are not planted, yet they bloom every year; worries have no roots, yet they appear every day. A poem shall serve as illustration:

Up and down, success and failure are unpredictable;

In this world we are flowering willows shaken by spring gusts.

A landscape with neither limits nor compassion—

Pleasant in a painting, but not to travel through.

Han Qing and his group traveled for several days. It was just the time of transition from spring to summer. The shade was dense, the leaves green. The weather turned hot suddenly and the scenery was captivating.

Luying called to Mme. Dou, “Mother-in-law, many days have flown by since we left Chang’an. My parents are both old. What shall I do if I never see them again?”

“We have traveled for so long and still haven’t met a convenient person with whom to send a letter back to your parents to thank them and wish them well,” Mme. Dou replied. “As for an opportunity to meet them face to face, the only place is in the dream realm. When we have arrived at home, we’ll make plans.”

As mother and daughter-in-law were conversing, Xiangzi and Lan Caihe were following them, close by, yet invisible. When they heard the two women speak, they realized that they had not yet changed their minds, and so they took on the appearance of two fishermen, who sat in the shade of a willow tree and cast their lines across from the road on which the Han household was traveling.

When Mme. Dou saw the two fishermen from afar, she called Han Qing and said, “See those two fishing there? They are much happier than we.”

“They fish only for profit,” Han Qing said. “If they catch fish, they are happy; if they don’t, then they have many worries. Why should they necessarily be happy?”

“Go see if they have some fish,” Mme. Dou told him. “If they do, we’ll buy a few to make soup.”

“Fishermen, if you have fish in your basket, sell us a few,” he called. One of them waved and chanted a poem:

“I wouldn’t want to be a rich and powerful marquis;

Instead, I make my living following my lot in a little skiff.

I spend some time in leisure by the wide misty waves;

Once I drink maozhai wine, I become drunk and take a rest.”

“You are no poet, yet when I ask to buy fish from you, you don’t answer whether you have any, but instead start chanting poetry!” Han Qing said. “Ridiculous!” Then he called to the other fisherman, “Fisherman, if you have fish, sell me a few.”

That fisherman didn’t say whether he had any fish either, but instead chanted a poem as well:

“A single fishing line on a wide area of misty waves;

Among the dense trees in the deep mountains white clouds dwell.

When I catch fish I buy wine and settle under the thatched pavilion;

Of the confusions of the dusty world I know nothing.”

Han Qing laughed and said, “You two are not fishermen, but courtiers!”

“Courtiers trail their long robes in royal households, are unsure whether to step forward or not, are uncertain whether to speak or not, and always wag their tails and beg for pity,” the fishermen replied. “We on the other hand do not care for right or wrong, are not moved by favor or disgrace; we are happy men, leisurely and free. Why do you insult us by calling us courtiers? Here is another poem:

“We don’t pay our respects at noble doors and thus attain our freedom;

We roam freely among the misty scenery of the five lakes.

Our only concern is that, drunken with wine, we might go wild,

And push over the white jade towers of the celestial palace.”

When Han Qing heard the fishermen’s poem, he hurried back to Mme. Dou and reported to her in detail what had happened.

“If they speak in this way, these two fishermen are not lowly underlings,” she said. “I’ll speak to them myself; let’s see how they reply.” She approached them and asked, “Fishermen, with the two of you fishing you should each have your own place. Why are you sitting together? Haven’t you heard that ‘Fish that roam in pairs are like bubbles on water; swimming against the stream they never turn their heads.’ Fishermen should not fish in pairs. If there are no fish here, try somewhere else.”

The fishermen did not respond, but just recited with lowered heads:

“Amid the scattered shade under the green willow there is a ferry;

Holding our rods we wish to board the fishing boat.

Being at leisure, we are not fettered by fame and profit;

Drunk and well fed we roam and laugh at the nobility.”

When Mme. Dou heard this, she said, “‘Being at leisure, we are not fettered by fame and profit; drunk and well fed we roam and laugh at the nobility’—that’s well said. You fishermen are much happier than we.” She came yet a step closer and called to one of the fishermen, “Fisherman, where do you live? Why do the two of you fish in one place?”

Turning his head, the fisherman recited:

“When thirsty, we drink from a clear spring; when drunk, we rest.

Throughout the four seasons we roam freely, enjoying pleasing vistas.

What’s the use of jade halls and golden horses?

Caves and cloudy mountains remain in everlasting autumn.”

Having recited this poem, the two fishermen suddenly vanished.

Anxiously, the lady called, “Han Qing, did you see where the two fishermen went?”

“We were all here, but never saw them leave,” Han Qing said.

Imploring Heaven and Earth, Mme. Dou wailed, “When authority is gone, the slave will cheat his master; when the times are in decline, ghosts will play tricks on humans. Today I have seen ghosts—what shall I do?”

“Mother-in-law, please be patient,” Luying said. “How can there be ghosts in broad daylight? Those two must have been divine immortals who had transformed themselves. Let’s just hurry on and make further plans later.”

So the party journeyed on, eating when they were hungry, drinking when they were thirsty. They stopped at night and traveled during the day, in this way crossing several counties in several days.

When he saw that they were approaching Changli County, Han Qing said, “From here it is not far to Changli. Let me hurry ahead to the town so that I can call together the tenants and have them sweep our mansion clean. Afterwards I will come and fetch you and Sister-in-law.”

“That’s an excellent idea. Make haste!” Mme. Dou said.

Han Qing rented a horse and, taking along one attendant, rushed ahead at flying speed. After an arduous day’s journey he reached the county capital of Changli.

By the time he reached the Chaotian Bridge, dusk was already falling. Stopping his horse, Han Qing looked around, but did not see his family’s houses. Badly startled he said, “This must be Chaotian Bridge. Why can’t I see our houses? Is my eyesight so dim that I can’t even see buildings? Or is a thick fog shielding them from my eyes?” Anxious and confused, he rode his horse to Drum Tower Alley, but when he got there, he saw only a wide body of deep, clear water. Where was the main hall, where the half-beamed towers and buildings? Not half a wall, not one stone was left.

Han Qing was so agitated that he shivered and sweated in turn. He had to get off his horse, and ordered his attendant to guard it. He himself made his way to the home of their old neighbor Qian Xinyu, who lived at the entrance to the alley. There he asked, “Is the venerable official Qian at home? I would like to ask him a question.”

“Who is asking for me?” Qian Xinyu said. “How come you address me so formally as ‘venerable official’ rather than as ‘old gentleman’?”

“I am the second son of Minister Han,” Han Qing said.

“The Han family has only a nephew called Han Xiang, who has never returned since he left to cultivate himself,” Qian Xinyu said. “How many years ago did he adopt you as second son?”

“When my father adopted me, did he first have to send a messenger to notify you so that you could recognize impostors?” Han Qing said. “Minister Han was your old neighbor—would it be easy to impersonate his son to you? Come out and look at me closely. Why the idle interrogation?”

Qian Xinyu put on some clothes, came out, and looked at Han Qing in the light of a lamp. Then he said, “So, it is Zhang Erguan. You were with Mr. Han in Chang’an. When did you come back? What do you want from me at this hour? After Mr. Han died, his wife probably couldn’t stand you any more and chased you out. Sorry, but I’d bring my own wife’s ill will on myself if I took you in.”

These words made Han Qing so angry that his face went red and puffy and he couldn’t get out a word. To himself he thought, “It’s lucky I didn’t bring my attendant along to his house. If that old dog bone had opened his stupid mouth in his presence, I would have died of shame.”

When Qian Xinyu saw that Han Qing didn’t say anything, he added, “I haven’t seen you for some years. Erguan, you’ve developed into a proper and neat young man, quite unlike your former self. Well, it’s as they say: live in a different environment and you develop a different appearance.”

Han Qing looked around, and when he saw that nobody was in the corridor he said, “Venerable Official Qian, I’ll be frank with you. It was because his nephew had abandoned the family to cultivate himself and had never returned, and because he had no son of his own, that Master Han elevated me to become his second son. None of the people who knew me before are around any more, and our present servants were all hired afterwards. Everyone calls me the second young gentleman and nobody knows that I used to be Zhang Erguan. Even the old lady calls me Son, and Miss Luying calls me Brother-in-law. So you, venerable official, should no longer speak of the past.”

“I had no idea,” Qian Xinyu said. “I just said that you were Zhang Erguan, but truly I gave offense.” Quickly he brought out some tea and offered it to Han Qing. Only then did Han Qing raise the matter of the Hans’ house. Qian Xinyu recounted to him in all detail that in the third month a thunderstorm had swept everything away.

Han Qing cried bitterly, took his leave of Qian Xinyu, and rushed back onto the road. When he met up with Mme. Dou and Luying, he said, “Mother, Sister-in-law, oh dear, oh dear!”

Startled, Mme. Dou said, “Thanks to our rescue by Master Lin, we have returned to our native land. What is wrong now?”

Han Qing said, “When I arrived in Drum Tower Alley, I couldn’t find our house. I was so startled that I just stared open-mouthed. Eventually I inquired with a neighbor, who told me that on the eleventh day of the third month a great flood destroyed all our family’s houses and fields. The only thing that’s left is a wide, deep pond.”

“How many other people were harmed by this flood?” Mme. Dou asked.

“Our family alone was harmed. No others suffered any damage.”

“Blessings never come in pairs, calamities never alone,” Luying said. “We have neither home nor country to find refuge in. What shall we do?”

“This grievous suffering has been brought about by that old robber Cui Qun,” Mme. Dou said. “Have the dragons and Heaven no eyes to see?”

“Mother, Sister-in-law, do you remember?” said Han Qing. “That day in the Chrysanthemum Pavilion there was that Daoist who said,

“‘When your destiny is troubled and the times are difficult, do not sigh;

Then the scenery of Chang’an is suddenly not so praiseworthy anymore.

With the ancestral property washed away, there is no refuge for you;

Then you will realize that your earlier views were mistaken.’

“Mother, you wouldn’t believe him, yet today his words are all proven right.”

“You’re right,” Mme. Dou responded. “It was only because that Daoist pretended to be Xiangzi that I did not heed him. If Xiangzi really returned, I’d be willing to follow him and leave the family.”

“It’s getting late,” Luying said. “Let’s think about it again tomorrow. There’s a proverb that says, ‘Heaven always leaves you a way out.’ Besides the choice of death, there must also be an option for life. Please don’t upset yourself, Mother-in-law.”

Mme. Dou and Luying again spent the night on the boat. Early the next morning, after Han Qing had arranged for and eaten breakfast, he went into town with a servant to rent a house. He temporarily moved all the things they had brought along into the house, and only when everything was properly prepared did he fetch Mme. Dou and Luying. When his mother entered the house, she wailed loudly. It was only when Luying at her side admonished her repeatedly to calm down that she fell silent.

Master Lü was on a cloud nearby, together with Lan Caihe and Han Xiangzi. When he saw Mme. Dou’s grief, he laughed and said, “They used to live peacefully in Chang’an. If the Jade Emperor hadn’t sent us to deliver them, would they ever willingly have come to this place?”

“Let me send them a dream and see if they awake or not,” Xiangzi proposed.

“Yes, do, quickly,” Master Lü said.

When Xiangzi went into his aunt’s chamber, he saw that she was sleeping soundly. He called into her ear, “Aunt, I am Han Xiangzi, come especially to see you. You said that you dwelled in a great mansion in Chang’an and enjoyed a generous salary. Where is Chang’an now? Why do you still not awaken? Leave the family right away, before you suffer further setbacks.”

Mme. Dou awoke with a start and said, “When I dozed off, I saw Xiangzi standing before me and mocking me. When I looked closely, he was gone. What am I to do?

“At the first watch,

I shed many tears

That I had to leave Chang’an.

Turning to regard my native mountains,

The road is far and there are no tidings.

I remember how at first

I misunderstood words of good advice.

“At the second watch,

A strange wind howls,

Pressing in on me.

My eyes regarding the sky,

My soul ascends the paper bridge.

Tell Heaven

That Mme. Dou will soon come.

“At the third watch,

I still have not woken from my dream,

When I see Xiangzi’s shape and shadow.

He says that I did not consider

How long the journey would be.

It is my obstinacy

That brought these calamities on us.

“At the fourth watch,

I see that there is no light yet in the sky,

When suddenly I see Xiangzi arrive.

He still looks the same,

But his clothes are all tattered.

With every word he blames me—

It is high time to turn back.

“At the fifth watch,

I see Xiangzi coming to save us.

I clearly hear him speak, dumb no more,

But on awakening, I see him not.

I clap my hand and sigh in vain.

In my anger against Cui Qun,

I cannot distinguish true and false.”

When the fifth watch had passed, the sky began gradually to lighten. Luying came forward and said, “Mother-in-law, why were you murmuring all night? You didn’t sleep at all.”

“Above I own not a single roof tile to shield me, below not enough empty ground to stick an awl,” Mme. Dou said. “Having to rent a house to stay in is painful enough. To make things worse, as I closed my eyes I saw Xiangzi before me talking of all kinds of things, but when I opened my eyes he was gone. So I didn’t get any sleep all night.”

“Events take their course beyond our control,” Luying admonished her. “A tree may want to stop the seasons, but the wind still will not cease. You can only be patient, Mother-in-law. You mustn’t succumb to sorrow or you will harm your health.”

“I do know that sorrow is useless, but it still weighs on my mind,” Mme. Dou replied.

“Mother, Sister-in-law, all affairs must be given careful deliberation,” said Han Qing. “An ancient saying goes ‘Although the garden of Liang is beautiful, it is not a home that one should hanker after for too long.’ It is also said, ‘If you borrow another man’s wife, she will be difficult to control and your stove will remain cold.’ Renting this house is no permanent solution. We have to find other housing; only then will we be able to make a living and pass our days. We won’t last with just these temporary arrangements. Surely you have heard: if a family has a thousand ounces and uses two tenths of an ounce of silver every day, it won’t last for more than thirteen years, unless it is invested.”

“In your view, what options are open to us?” Mme. Dou asked.

“I think we should build us some bamboo fences and thatched huts on the beach,” Han Qing said. “That would be better than living in another person’s house and having to worry day and night about paying the rent.”

“Well said,” Mme. Dou agreed.

Han Qing thereupon made plans to find timber, buy bricks, erect a work shed, and choose an auspicious day to begin the project.

How sad when a family is scattered like the stars;

When they abandon each other, each one is heartbroken.

Truly this is the point when it is unbearable to look back.

If thinking of home is hard, look ahead to the land of white clouds.

If you don’t know what happened next, please listen to the explanations of the next chapter.